New labour market instruments aiming to activate disadvantaged groups in the labour market in the light of the act on employment promotion and labour market institutions

The subject matter of the article are labour market instruments aiming at professional activation of disadvantaged groups in the labour market. The analysis focused on new labour market instruments which are included to the Act of 2004 on employment promotion and labour market institutions, after latest extensive amendment made on May, 2014. New labour market instruments are intended to increase job centres’ flexibility by better adjusting their services to the needs of the given unemployed and employer. The fundamental purpose of the new labour market instruments is to help young people (up to 30 years of age) and older unemployeds (over 50) enter and stay on the labour market, as well as take measures to facilitate the balance between work and family life. For young unemployed under 30 the new labour market instruments were introduced with a view to motivating them to take up individual job seeking activities (e.g. implemented system of vouchers). In order to activate professionally the 50+ unemployeds, the possibility of obtaining co-funding compensations for employers who employ jobless in this age group has been established. Also, new instruments for unemployed who want to hold balance between work and family life have been introduced – grant for teleworking, job seeking allowances.